LG Innotek presented a smartphone camera module with optical telephoto zoom. LG Innotek, a subsidiary of the South Korean multinational, has officially unveiled a periscope-style optical zoom camera module, with a telephoto lens capable of magnification from 4 to 9 times. This module allows smartphone cameras to maintain full image quality throughout the zoom range, while reducing the number of modules normally required for this functionality.
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The module in question could be used by Apple on future iPhones; a similar system has been exploited by Samsung in the Galaxy S20 Ultra allowing the optical zoom to reach 4x. Many smartphone cameras use hybrid zooms that combine digital zoom and multiple modules, offering zoom in certain ranges (2x, 3x, 10x) via hardware and others (2.5x, 4.5x) via digital capabilities, reducing the quality of some details.
LG’s new “Optical Zoom Camera” module integrates a zoom actuator with moving components, along the lines of components found on a zoom lens in a mirrorless or DSLR camera. According to LG, the module in question is able to intervene quickly and with micrometric precision, offering advantages from the point of view of battery saving. It also integrates a stabilizer to reduce blur, an issue that could occur with telephoto lenses due to hand movements.
With such a periscope-style module it is possible to obtain 4 to 9 times magnification with full resolution, and LG still reports the possibility of reducing the “bump” (the protrusion) of the camera section of smartphones.
LG has partnered with Qualcomm to integrate the technology into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform and explains, “It will improve the image adjustment for the optics, which includes auto focus, auto exposure, auto white balance, shadow correction of the lens and much more. Users will be able to focus quickly. And your photos and videos will have an amazing image quality.”
The new module will be integrated into smartphones to be announced from January 3 at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. As mentioned, in the past days the name of Apple has been circulating as a “papable” company for the module in question on future iPhones; other devices on which this module could be integrated are: the OnePlus 11 series, Xiaomi 13, Motorola X40 and Oppo Find X.
